Lyman Beecher was opposed to Catholicism and therefore preached a sermon in Boston which resulted in the burning of the Catholic Sisters’ Convent. Slavery was threatening to divide the Presbyterian Church. He was against abolition and refused to give classes to African Americans. Beecher always felt as if he was not earning enough money. He wanted a higher and higher salary, so he would leave one church and join another. Lyman Beecher's main goal was to put an end to uncontrollable drinking. He felt it was unnecessary and prevented you to get into heaven.
Methods and Successes:
The main method Beecher used to get his point across was in his sermons. Since he was a Presbyterian minister, he was able to easily influence and provide inspirational speeches. Lyman Beecher was called into Boston to address Unitarianism. To stop this, Beecher gave a sermon against Unitarianism. Another example is Lyman Beecher’s stand on Catholicism. He was opposed to it, so therefore gave a sermon against it. This sermon was followed by the burning of the Catholic Sisters’ Convent. During the time period, the way Lyman Beecher got his point across was practical. Many people at the time were religious and since Beecher was a preacher, citizens tended to listen to him. The fact that Beecher believed that alcohol prevented you from getting into heaven was important as well.
Before Lyman Beecher, there had been scattered protests against the drinking of alcohol. Once Beecher took the stand, a real movement started to form. He sent out six sermons on intemperance. In one of the sermons, Beecher talks about how alcohol consumes the drinker and makes them do things that they have no control over. They babble and their eyes redden. These sermons were sent around the world and published in different countries and in different languages. After these sermons, there were over 5,000 state and local anti-alcohol organizations in America. The organizations then went on to say how alcohol led to poverty and unemployment. Lyman Beecher was able to unify the Temperance movement to stop the drinking of alcohol.
Presidential Support:
The president would be able to help the Temperance movement by a lot. Even though Beecher was moving throughout the country, some more recognition and help spreading the word would be appreciated. Another thing the government could have done would have been to set in motion an act or law banning alcohol. This would have helped completely since it was what he was trying to accomplish. Even without the help of the government, Lyman Beecher was able to achieve great things.
References:
Dr. Justin Edwards was a preacher similar to Beecher. Together, they founded the American Temperance Society. The members of this society pledged to be abstinent from alcohol beverages.
Harriett Beecher Stowe was the daughter and co-worker of Lyman Beecher. She was the seventh child of Lyman but also helped him in his sermons. After Lyman Beecher was acquitted in court for a heresy charge, the two of them worked hard to try to revive the Seminary, but failed to do so.
Andrew Starr
Lyman Beecher
Reform for temperance
Criticisms and Goals:
Lyman Beecher was opposed to Catholicism and therefore preached a sermon in Boston which resulted in the burning of the Catholic Sisters’ Convent. Slavery was threatening to divide the Presbyterian Church. He was against abolition and refused to give classes to African Americans. Beecher always felt as if he was not earning enough money. He wanted a higher and higher salary, so he would leave one church and join another. Lyman Beecher's main goal was to put an end to uncontrollable drinking. He felt it was unnecessary and prevented you to get into heaven.
Methods and Successes:
The main method Beecher used to get his point across was in his sermons. Since he was a Presbyterian minister, he was able to easily influence and provide inspirational speeches. Lyman Beecher was called into Boston to address Unitarianism. To stop this, Beecher gave a sermon against Unitarianism. Another example is Lyman Beecher’s stand on Catholicism. He was opposed to it, so therefore gave a sermon against it. This sermon was followed by the burning of the Catholic Sisters’ Convent. During the time period, the way Lyman Beecher got his point across was practical. Many people at the time were religious and since Beecher was a preacher, citizens tended to listen to him. The fact that Beecher believed that alcohol prevented you from getting into heaven was important as well.
Before Lyman Beecher, there had been scattered protests against the drinking of alcohol. Once Beecher took the stand, a real movement started to form. He sent out six sermons on intemperance. In one of the sermons, Beecher talks about how alcohol consumes the drinker and makes them do things that they have no control over. They babble and their eyes redden. These sermons were sent around the world and published in different countries and in different languages. After these sermons, there were over 5,000 state and local anti-alcohol organizations in America. The organizations then went on to say how alcohol led to poverty and unemployment. Lyman Beecher was able to unify the Temperance movement to stop the drinking of alcohol.
Presidential Support:
The president would be able to help the Temperance movement by a lot. Even though Beecher was moving throughout the country, some more recognition and help spreading the word would be appreciated. Another thing the government could have done would have been to set in motion an act or law banning alcohol. This would have helped completely since it was what he was trying to accomplish. Even without the help of the government, Lyman Beecher was able to achieve great things.
References:
Dr. Justin Edwards was a preacher similar to Beecher. Together, they founded the American Temperance Society. The members of this society pledged to be abstinent from alcohol beverages.
Harriett Beecher Stowe was the daughter and co-worker of Lyman Beecher. She was the seventh child of Lyman but also helped him in his sermons. After Lyman Beecher was acquitted in court for a heresy charge, the two of them worked hard to try to revive the Seminary, but failed to do so.
Cites:
"American Temperance Society." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Temperance_Society>.
"Beecher's Sermon on Intemperance." Uncle Tom's Cabin & American Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/sentimnt/sneslbat.html>.
"Temperance Movement They wanted to outlaw alcohol. Lyman Beecher." Happy History. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://happyhistory.com.istemp.com/Temperance.pdf>.
whom?. "Lyman Beecher - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyman_Beecher>.